Graduations
Preliminary note: Bear in mind that the German educational system is quite different to most other educational systems in the world. So the English translation is on most cases a more or less rough approximation for the type of school in question, and the German term is added in hyphens and italic.
How to catch up on German school graduations
It is important for your career and in particular for taking up a professional training that your school diploma is accepted in Germany.
Various schools in Schleswig-Holstein are offering their services to adult persons whose school diploma is not accepted in Germany or who want to obtain a higher graduation being not of school age anymore.
There are full-time vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen) where you can acquire a higher graduation along with a qualification for several trades requiring a pure school education. If you want to know more please contact us or an advisory service. Or ask your local full-time vocational school.
Lower Secondary School Graduation (Hauptschulabschluss)
Vocational Schools (Berufliche Schulen)
Youth up to 18 years who are not of school age anymore may catch up on their lower secondary school diploma by means of a training preparatory year (Ausbildungsvorbereitendes Jahr, AVJ). Most vocational schools in Schleswig-Holstein offer such an AVJ which will last, of course, one year. In state-run vocational schools the AVJ is free of charges.
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Vocational preparation with the same objective is offered to persons under 25 by institutions such as Federal Employment Agency (Bundesanstalt für Arbeit), Youth Development Organization (Jugendaufbauwerk), Professional Training Organization (Berufsfortbildungswerk) and others. For further information contact us or your local job center (ARGE) counselor or the nearest education and employment information center.
or Adult Education Centers (Volkshochschulen, VHS)
Classes preparing for an external secondary school exam are offered full-time as well as part-time and last accordingly between 6 and 12 months. There is no age restriction, but participation is charged for. If you want to learn about chances of financial support, please contact your counselor with your local job center, the Federal Employment Agency or the Federal Training Assistance Agency (Amt für BAFÖG). Information in more detail can be obtained with your local VHS. Take note that most often there is only one class a year, so please contact them early on.
Secondary School Graduation (Realschulabschluss)
Full-time vocational schools (Berufsfachschulen)
Attending a full-time vocational school in Schleswig-Holstein you get the chance to obtain a secondary school graduation in full-time education. A lower secondary school graduation is prerequisite. Minimum age is 16, otherwise there is no age restriction. Education lasts 2 years. In addition to imparting general education most of these full-time vocational schools have a specific focus on facilitating first steps into a professional direction, e.g. health, social work, design, economy, engineering.
Within the framework of secondary school education some full-time vocational schools also offer a vocational qualification. For further information please contact us or a full-time vocational school.
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Adult education centers offer full-time or part-time preparatory classes for junior high school graduation against payment. For further information contact us or your local VHS or education and employment information center.
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For information on courses that are not for free or private schools, please contact your local education and employment information center.
University of Applied Sciences Entrance Qualification (Fachhochschulreife)
A university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule) in Germany is a more practice-oriented kind of university. Also, when taking up a professional training you are sometimes required to have an entrance qualification for a university of applied sciences.
You may acquire this qualification after having been to a full-time vocational school (Berufsfachschule) or a technical college (Fachoberschule) for two years. Prerequisite is graduation from secondary school (Realschule), sometimes a completed professional training is asked for, too.
In addition, some full-time vocational schools also offer acquiring a vocational qualification. For further information please contact us or a full-time vocational school or an education and employment information center.
Subject-Linked University Entrance Qualification (Fachgebundene Hochschulreife/Fachabitur) / General University Entrance Qualification (Allgemeine Hochschulreife/Abitur)
Having acquired a general university entrance qualification (which in Germany is usually called Abitur) you may study any subject you want at a university or college. Or you may take up a professional training where this kind of qualification is required.
With a subject-linked university entrance qualification on the other hand, your choice is restricted to a university or college of the respective subject. A subject-linked university entrance qualification can be acquired at a vocational high school (Fachgymnasium) or an advanced technical college (Berufsoberschule, BOS). General university entrance qualification requires additional courses in several subjects of general education and/or an exam in these subjects.
Graduation from secondary school (Realschule) or an equivalent is a prerequisite for attending vocational high school (Fachgymnasium). Many schools will demand a certain GPA, too. Vocational high school is attended for 3 years. After 2 years, you may qualify for university of applied sciences entrance (Fachhochschule).
Graduation from secondary school (Realschule) and most often a completed professional training are prerequisites for attending an advanced technical college (Berufsoberschule). Advanced technical college is attended for 2 years: 1 year technical college (Fachoberschule), 1 year advanced technical college (Berufsoberschule).
Vocational high schools (Fachgymnasium) and advanced technical colleges (Berufsoberschule) are part of the vocational school system in Schleswig-Holstein.
More Useful Information
Comprehensive information on choice of career and secondary schools
Looking for specific facilities of education and training?
The Training Initiative (Ausbildungsinitiative) Schleswig-Holstein offers addresses of state-run and private vocational schools in Schleswig-Holstein and also an inventory of companies and institutions providing vocational training and education. To start the search, use the button Ausbildung on their homepage and then go for either Schulen in S.-H. or Suche von Betrieben.
